Safety ash tray



March 24, 1936. F. o. CARLSQN 2,034,710

SAFETY ASH TRAY Original Filed Oct. 8, 1932 ATTORNEY Patented Mar. 24, 1936 UNITED STATES SAFETY ASH TRAY Frederick o. Carlson, New York, N.

Application October 8,1932, Serial No. 636,788

Renewed June 25, 1935 24 Claims. 01. 131-51) This invention relates to an improved ash tray and has for its object the provision of thermostatically controlled means for depositing buming cigarette or cigar ends into the tray before the same has burned back so as to overbalance and fall on the table or floor.

Another object of the invention includes the provision of a lip or spoon for supporting a lighted cigarette or cigar, and means influenced by the heat of the burning cigarette or cigar for depositing the same into the tray.

A further object is the provision of a cigarette rest or support and means thermostatically operable for emptying the same.

I further provide means for tiltingly supporting the cigarette rest. In a preferred form said means may take the shape of a thermostatic coil, or a pair of thermostatic coils, on one arm of which is supported the cigarette rest or lip and by which said cigarette rest or lip is tilted to empty the burning cigarette into the tray.

Moreover, the cigarette support or spoon may be cleaned otherwise than by tilting the same. Thus, for example, the cigarette rest or spoon may be cleaned by a thermostatically operated wiper arm, the same being operated by thermostitic means to thereby move over the spoon and brush the cigarette or cigar end into the tray. The wiper arm is operated by the thermostatic unit due to the heat of the burning cigarette or cigar.

It is my further purpose to provide a simple and eflicient means which automatically operates and empties a neglected or forgotten cigarette into the tray when the same has burned back far enough so as to influence the thermostatic element, whereby the lip or spoon on which the cigarette is placed will slowly rise and cause the burning end of the cigarette to be automatically emptied into the tray. Thereafter the thermostatic element cools and the spoon or lip recedes to its normal position where it again is ready to receive another cigarette end. The device is automatic and self cleaning and the cigarette is emptied before it can reach a point where it will overbalance and drop on the outside of the tray.

Other advantages will appear hereinafter and I obtain these advantages by constructions shown in the accompanying drawing, in which Figure 1 is a view in perspective of a preferred form of safety ash tray with the cigarette or cigar rest or support in normal or down position;

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary view of a tray showing the cigarette tion;

Fig. 3 is a view taken 'on line 3-301 Fig. 1 but having the safety guard removed;

Fig. 4 is a plan view of a portion of a tray showing the cigarette support or lip supported by two coils instead of one;

Fig. 5 is a view on the line 8-8 of Fig. 4 showing a cigarette in position;

Fig. 6 is aview showing the lip tilted with a 1 cigarette deposited in the tray; 1

Figs. 7, 8, and 9 show a modifiedform where the cigarette or cigar rest or lip is tilted sidewise instead of endwise; and

Fig. 10 shows a 'wiper for cleaning the cigar is or cigarette support or lip.

The same reference characters refer to like parts throughout the several views.

Referring now to the drawing, an ash tray suitable for the purpose at hand is indicated by 20 the numeral It]. On this ash tray is tiltingly supported the cigarette or cigar rest in-the form of a lip or spoon II. 'This spoon is slightly curved so as to receive a cigarette and hold the same. To one side of this lip there is united, by welding or 25 otherwise, the end of arm l2 of a thermostatic coil l3. The opposite arm M of coil I3 is attached to the edge of tray Hi. It is understood that the thermostatic coil is of such shape and dimensions as will properly respond to the heat from a burning cigarette and lift the spoon l I with the cigarette so as to discharge the burning cigarette into the tray in the manner illustrated in Fig. 6. I find that it is important to properly gauge 13118 8128 and dimensions of the thermo- 35 static coil and the thickness of the metal from which it is made. This is determined by actual trials. In orderto provide sufiicient capacity for the lifting arm l2 of the coil it is necessary to have several coilsand I find that for the ordinary 40 cigarette-about four coils of suitable width and thickness will operate satisfactorily. In order to protect the cigarette and keep the same from rolling off sidewise I provide a guard l5 which may be attached to the tray in the manner shown 45 in Figs. 1 and 2. This guard is not absolutely necessary but it is an advantage to have the same and I prefer to use it.

In Fig. 4, I have shown a right hand coil 20 and a left hand coil 2| having outer arms l6 and IT 50 attached to the cigarette or cigar support I I. It will be noted that the inner arms l8 of these coils are attached to-the tray and each of the coils tapers outwardly so as to conform with the bend of the lip II. This provides a convenient means 55 supportin up or discharging posttends over the tray.

. support there is attached the thermostatic coil for employlng'two coils in such a way that the same are out of place and will not be injured by heat or association of the burning cigarette.

Instead of tilting the cigarette or cigar support or lip endwise' (as is shown in the drawing and as just described) it is obvious that said support 'may be tilted sidewise, as is indicated in Figs. 7, 8 and 9. In the construction shown in Figs. 7, 8 and 9 the cigarette support 22 is supported on a. pivot pin 2l'so as to tilt sidewise, as shown in Fig. 9.

The thermostatic coil 24 has one arm 25 attached to the support 26. The other arm of said coil is supported to engage the tray at 21. It is evident that when the cigarette 28 burns back far enough to heat thecoil 24 the expansion of said coil will lift arm 25 and tilt the spoon 22 sidewise thereby depositing the cigarette into the tray in the manner illustrated by Fig. 9.

- In Fig. 10, I have illustrated awiper r6553? cleaning device.

In this type the cigarette support 29 is fastened to the edge'of tray l0, preferably in a manner so that one end of said support ex- Near the inner end of this wipe the cigarette into the tray.

Obviously various modifications and forms will suggest themselves to those versed in the art and although I have described specifically preferred types I do not wish to be understood as thus limiting myself to the exact structures.

What I claim as new and useful and of my own invention and desire to secure by Letters Patent 1. An ash tray having a lip thereon which comprises a safety rest for a lighted cigarette or cigar, and means carried by said tray and connected to said rest for clearing the same, said means rendered active by the heat of the lighted cigarette or cigar on the cigarette rest and thereby depositing the lighted cigarette or cigar into the ashtray.

2. An ash tray having a lip or spoon tiltingly supported thereon, which comprises a support for a lighted cigarette or cigar, means rendered active by the heat of the lighted cigarette or cigar when supported on the lip for tilting said lip to thereby discharge thecigarette or cigar into the s. In a safety ash tray, a bowl for'receiving the ashes and unconsumed ends of cigarettes or cigars, a lip thereon which serves as a safety rest for lighted cigarettes or cigars, a thermostatic member carried by the bowl and said lip, and means operative by the thermostatic member whereby the lip is cleaned of burning cigarette or cigar ends.

4. In a safety ash tray, a bowl for receiving the unconsumed ends of burning cigarettes, means on said bowl for supporting said cigarette ends above the bowl, and means influenced by the heat of the burning cigarette for dumping said burning cigarette into the bowl of the ash tray.

5. In a safety ash tray, a bowl for receivingthe unconsumed ends of burning cigarettes, a spoon or lip forsupporting said cigarette ends outside of the bowl, and a thermostatic member adjacent the spoon in response to changes in the thermostatic member.

, 6. In a safety ash tray, a bowl for receiving the unconsumed ends of burning cigarettes, a spoon for supporting said cigarette ends above the bowl, and a thermostatic member attached to the bowl and spoon for emptying the spoon into the tray upon being influenced by the heat'of burning cigarette.

7. In a safety ash tray, a bowl for receiving the for supporting-said "cigaIette 'ends' above the "-"bowl, a thermostatic member carried by the bowl and attached to the spoon for tilting the same when the thermostatic member is influenced by the heat of the burning cigarette, and a shield for said spoon and thermostatic member.

9. In a safety ash tray, a bowl for receiving the unconsumed ends of burning cigarettes, a spoon for supporting said cigarette ends above the bowl, a thermostatic coil having one end attached to the ash tray and the other engaging the spoon, and a pivot pin on whichthe spoon is tilted when the coil is subjected to temperature changes.

10. In a safety ash tray, a bowl for receiving the unconsumed ends of burning cigarettes, a spoon for supporting said cigarette ends outside of the bowl, a wiper arm in said spoon, and a thermostatic coil having one end attached to the tray and the other to the wiper arm.

11. In a safety ash tray, a bowl for receiving the unconsumed end of a burning cigarette, a spoon for supporting said cigarette end, and a thermostatic member attached tocihe bowl' and spoon for tilting said spoon when the thermostatic member is influenced by the heat of the burning end.

12. In combination, an ash receiver, a support for lighted cigarettes and the like associated with said receiver, said support including means under the control of the heat of the cigarette for depositing the same in said receiver.

13. In combination, an ash receiver, a support for lighted cigarettes and thelike associated with said receiver, and thermo-sensltive means under s the control of the heat of the cigarette for deposceiver at the other end upon predetermined increases in temperature, whereby movement of the support to its deflected position will cause discharge of a supported cigarette.

16. In an article of the class described, the combination of a holder having a rest to receive a lighted cigar, cigarette, or the like, and heat responsive means for shifting said lighted article 75 the path of the burning cigarette end for moving relatively to said rest.

1'7. In an article oi the class described, the combination of a holder having a rest to receive a lighted cigar, cigarette, or the like, and heat responsive means coacting with said rest for flipping the cigar into said receptacle.

18. In an article of the class described, the combination of a holder having a rest to receive a lighted cigar, cigarette, or the like, and means associated with the rest for automatically actuating said lighted article at' a predetermined time during its burning while supported by the rest, whereby to throw the lighted article into the holder.

19. A safety smokers article comprising an ash receptacle, a rest carried thereby, and a heat responsive member on said rest upon which a lighted cigar, cigarette, or the like may be disposed, said heat responsive member comprising a part actuated by heat from said lighted article to throw the latter into said receptacle.

20. In combination, a receptacle, 9. rest therer on to support an article adjacent the receptacle,

and aheat responsive device carried by said rest for shifting the article automatically relatively to the rest when a predetermined amount of heat affects said heat responsive device.

21. In combination, means for supporting a lighted cigar or cigarette, and thermo-sensitive means associated with said supporting means and movable when subjected to heat from the lighted portion or a cigar or cigarette positioned on the support to eflect movement of such cigar or cigarette in relation to said support.

22. In a holder for supporting lighted cigars, cigarettes or, the like which are dangerous in the possibility of their accidentally burning material near the holder in the event of falling therefrom, in combination, supporting means for the lighted cigarette, thermo-sensitive means associated with said supporting means and sensitive to the heat of the burning end of the cigarette held by said means when said burning cigarette is in such position that there will be danger of its falling from the holder whereby such accidental burning might take place, and means under the control of said thermo-sensitive means for physically treating said cigarette to obviate said danger.

'23. A holder for lightedcigars, cigarettes or the like, thermo-sensitive means associated with said holder and responsive to the heat of the burning portion of the cigarette, and means actu- 

